Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PURE'NESS, n.

1. Clearness; an unmixed state; separation or freedom from any heterogeneous or foreign matter; as, the pureness of water or other liquor; the pureness of a metal; the pureness of marl or clay; the pureness of air.
2. Freedom from moral turpitude or guilt. May we evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living. – Com. Prayer.
3. Simplicity; freedom from mixture or composition. An essence eternal and spiritual, of absolute pureness and simplicity. – Ralegh.
4. Freedom from vicious or improper words, phrases or modes of speech; as, pureness of style. – Ascham. Pure villenage, in the feudal law, is a tenure of lands by uncertain services at the will of the lord; opposed to privileged villenage. – Blackstone.